THE PEACOCK BASS

Americans refer to them as peacock bass, but you will not find this moniker in the vocabulary of the average South American angler. It is estimated that in excess of 3,000 American anglers visit South America each year to fish for this fantastic freshwater gamefish.

Brazilians refer to this hard fighting cichlid as tucunaré, an Indian derived name. It is pronounced too-coo-na-ray.  It is the national freshwater sportfish of Brazil.

 

The butterfly peacock bass is the one that has generated the most confusion in terms of correct nomenclature. While the IGFA calls the butterfly peacock bass cichla ocellaris, fisheries scientists suggest that they should add two other species of peacock bass, the cichla orinocensis and cichla monoculus, as cichlid peacocks that would qualify to be called the butterfly variety. The cichla orinocensis, also referred to as three spot peacock, pavón tres estrellas, pavon mariposa, pavón amarillo, marichapa, tucunaré borboleta, tucunaré botãozinho, lukanani, can be distinguished from other pavón species by three black circular spots (called rosettes) along each side of the body. This fish is mostly common found in the black waters of Orinoco and Amazon River basin. They like to be near rocky structure of slow flowing waters, as you will find in rivers like the  Negro, Unini, Uatumã, Orinoco and Ventuari, etc. This species will grow up to 10 pounds, however most are between two and five pounds that are regularly caught by anglers.

The cichla monoculus, also known as tucunaré borboleta, tucunaré amarelo, tucunaré comum, is predominantly yellow with three black bars in each side of the body. The bars start from the base of the dorsal fins and ends at the middle of the lateral body. The black blotching on the opercula (cheek region) is not present in this species. Some of the fish have spots in the anal fins. When they live in deep or stained waters the yellow colors change to a dark brown. This species can attain weights of 6 to 8 pounds. It is found in the Amazon, Araguaia and Tocantins rivers besides others. They were also introduced into several hydropower lakes, outside the Amazonas Region, in Brazil, Panama, Puerto Rico and Florida.

The speckled peacock bass (cichla temensis), often called the “tiger,” “el tigre,” “venado” or “paca,” is found in the Amazon River basin in the Rio Negro and Uatumã River drainages; Orinoco River basin in Venezuela and Colombia. This species possesses three dark vertical bars (becoming more distinct and defined with age), as well as four to six rows of white or pale yellow spots or broken lines, running in horizontal rows along the length of their bodies. Dieter Kelber states that spawning male fish do not demonstrate this speckling pattern. In addition, he also points out that the male speckled version of cichla temensis with the prominent nuchal hump will not demonstrate the obvious white or pale yellow speckling pattern like the barred variety of temensis. This species of peacock bass also possesses cheek (opercula) blotching. The world record peacock bass - a 27-pound giant - was a speckled variety. Many experienced peacock anglers believe that this is the most powerful of the species.  Seek out speckled peacock bass on points, sand bars and as isolated fish around rocky shoals.  Fisheries scientists and the International Gamefish Association (IGFA) consider this the same species as the barred peacock.

The barred peacock bass (cichla temensis), often called “grande,” “acu,” “banded,” “striped,” “cinchado” or “black barred” peacock, is dusky green on the dorsal surface, blending to a golden or greenish yellow on its sides. It is characterized by three black vertical bars along each side, and black irregular patches situated behind the eye on the cheek (opercula). The presence of these cheek patches will almost always distinguish it from the butterfly peacock bass, of which certain color patterns of this species can often resemble the barred peacock. This species can grow in excess of 27 pounds.

There is no debate that the cichla temensis (both the speckled and barred variety) reaches the largest proportions. Fish weighing between 12 and 20 pounds are very commonly caught while fishing at any of the three Amazon Fishing Adventures operations and are considered true trophy fish. It is the barred version of cichla temensis, not the speckled, that will possess the prominent nuchal hump (the large bump situated on the forehead of the spawning barred peacock – see photo at left).